We were preparing breakfast. I opted to slow down. I sliced onions thinly. I soaked them in cold water to rinse off some of their astringent bite. We patted them dry and dressed the onions with olive oil and salt. Aki asked Amaya if we could add some black pepper. Amaya responded, “Nope, but we can use the fresh red pepper flakes.” Amaya does not like the taste or aroma of black pepper and its heat source piperine. She has become a fan of chili peppers and the heat from capsaicin. The small adjustment from black to red was one I would not have explored on my own. I would have just gone without the spice. Amaya’s openness to interchangeable parts reminded me that finding the right component can work better than simple eliminations.
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